The History Program

Study history at Saint Vincent College and you will do more than read textbooks. You will make video documentaries, travel to historic sites, reenact famous trials, do research in archives all over America and abroad, visit museums, and create gallery exhibits. You will work with faculty experts in American, British, European, East Asian, and Latin American history.

You will write your own history and share it with students and faculty from campuses across the region. You will go on to a career in the classroom, the courtroom, the archives, the board room, or on board our nation’s naval vessels. Study history at Saint Vincent College and you will embark on a lifetime of learning and adventure.

Studying history at Saint Vincent College will develop students both personally and professionally. History majors

are part of a diverse community of young men and women who learn and develop skills that prepare them to understand the world and succeed in life.

work closely with supportive and distinguished faculty throughout your their four years at the college, benefiting from their personal tutelage.

complete research in exciting, far-away places such as London, Scotland, Spain, China, Italy, Greece, South Africa, and Ireland, as well as in Washington, D.C. and states from California, New Mexico and Florida to New York, Illinois and many others.

plan and carry out professional historical exhibits at locations all around campus. Student exhibits occupy space in Placid Hall, the Saint Vincent Gristmill, and in the Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery.

But the benefits of being a history major don’t end with graduation. With a degree in history from Saint Vincent College in hand, our graduates

go on to graduate school at prestigious schools such as: Villanova University, George Washington University, Michigan State University, Kings College, London, University of Leeds, England, North Carolina State University, Lehigh University, West Virginia University, Duquesne University, University of Washington, American University and Drexel University among many others.

study law at Indiana University, Bloomington, University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Washington and Lee University, University of Dayton and many others

teach at school districts around the country, including such places as Los Angeles, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Ohio, as well as more local districts such as Latrobe, Seneca Valley, Peters Township, Derry

begin successful careers in a variety of fields, including banking, manufacturing, museums and archives, and federal, state, and local governments, as well as a myriad of others.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in HistoryThe History major consists of 36 credits. The remaining balance of the 124 credits required for graduation can be composed of electives, or courses required for one or more minors or a second major. Students should choose electives in consultation with their major advisor.

A. Area Studies History majors are required to complete three of the following areas for a total of 18 credits at the 100 (introductory) level:HI 102 and 103 (6 credits) Western Civilization I: Ancient Greece and Rome & Western Civilization II: Medieval and Early Modern EuropeHI 104 and 105 (6 credits) Contemporary Europe I & Contemporary Europe IIHI 106 and 107 (6 credits) Topics in U.S. History to 1865 & Topics in U.S. History since 1865 HI 108 and 109 (6 credits) Traditional East Asian Societies & Modern East Asian SocietiesHI 110 and 111 (6 credits) English History to 1485 & English History: 1485 to PresentHI 123 and 124 (6 credits) Global History I & Global History II

B. Upper Division History Classes History majors must take three courses (9 credits) from the 200 level class offerings.

C. Majors only courses History majors will be required to take HI 300: The Historian’s Profession in either the fall or spring of their your sophomore year; HI 301: Junior Research Seminar in their your junior year; and HI 302: Senior Writing Seminar in the fall of their your senior year.

D. Non-Western Course Requirement The history major is required to take one course that is designated non-Western. This is not an additional course, but should be fulfilled by careful selection of either area studies or upper division courses. Courses that are designated as non-Western include: HI 108, HI 109, HI 123, HI 124, HI 208, HI 209, HI 224, HI 232, HI 233, HI 245, HI 270, HI 280, HI 281. Most non-Western courses will be offered on a two to four year rotation, so students should be aware of what is available in any given academic year. For an updated list of non-Western courses, consult with your advisor.

Teacher Preparation for Elementary and Secondary CertificationsRequirements for Certification in Secondary Social Studies (grades 7-12)In addition to a major in History and fulfillment of the Core Curriculum, the certification candidate must satisfy the requirements of the Education Department of Saint Vincent College.

Minor in HistoryA minor in History consists of 18 credit hours. Six of these credit hours are in fulfillment of the Core Curriculum requirements. The remaining 12 credit hours may be taken from any of the 100 or 200 level courses that the History Department offers. The Department requires that three (3) of the 18 credits be at the 200 (intermediate) level.

Minor in Public HistoryThe minor in Public History consists of 21 credit hours. Required courses are: HI 201, HI 202, HI 550 (to be taken in that order) and HI 306 and HI 258. The remaining credits may come from the following course options: AN 230, AR 280, AR 310, HI 307, HI 254. The option list may change as new courses are developed. Check with the department chair or your advisor for the most current list.Recommended courses that would be a good complement to the minor include: HI 106, HI 107, HI 233, AR 102 and AR 200. HI 201 and HI 202 cannot fulfill history major requirements.

Interdisciplinary CoursesSome semesters, the History Department may offer interdisciplinary or cross-listed courses. Students are urged to consult the course listings for each semester on the availability of these courses.

Pre-LawHistory majors interested in pursuing law as a career should discuss this with their academic advisor in the History Department.

In addition, history majors are eligible to participate in a cooperative program between Saint Vincent College and Duquesne Law School that allows them bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate degree in six years. In this program, qualified students who complete their first three years of study at Saint Vincent, fulfilling the Core Curriculum requirements and the requirements for the major, may transfer into the Law Program and complete the requirements for the Juris Doctor in three years. For details, see the explanation of this program in the Pre-Law section of the Saint Vincent Bulletin.